It's the properties of polymers, certain kinds of large molecules, that make these products bouncy, slimy, stretchy, breakable, hard, soft, sticky, moldableâand just plain fun to play with. Polymers are found in a variety of materials that have a broad range of properties.
As most dentists recommend, the best way to prevent a cavity is by brushing one's teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing with an oral rinse. As the tooth begins to decay more severely, there are several treatments that a dentist can use to attempt to repair the tooth.
For a shallow cavity on a tooth, the decay is removed and a filling is placed to seal the tooth. If the cavity is very deep and gets into the pulp,  root canal treatment is performed because the pulp has been exposed and infected with bacteria.